RobG

Two weekends ago I took my 5th wheel toyhauler out to Sand Mountain in Nevada (from San Jose). On the way home, I topped off in Fallon and then again in Lodi. I got 11.2x mpg. This was running 60-62 mph the whole way, Hwy 50 to I-80, I-80 to I-5, I-5 to Lodi.

Yesterday, I towed my small Haulmark enclosed snowmobile trailer from Reno to San Jose. It's a 10' box with a 4' v-nose, tandem-axle (1996 model), UNLOADED, and I know from weighing it that it's 2800 lbs unloaded.

Topped off in Reno and again in Lodi. Same route, same driving style. I got 13.8 mpg.

It seems to me I should have gotten better mileage than that... I was hoping for at least mid-to-high 14's.

Unloaded, if I run the same speed, I get nearly 18 mpg. With my 800+ lb. ATV in the back, same speed, I get 16.5.

The bearings are still good. At each stop, I use my laser temp sensor to check the hub temps, and all were right around 85 deg F. Tire temps were around 90 deg (they each had 44 psi in them).

On the upside, it makes it more practical to take the 5th wheel places....

Rob

MikeyB

What's your Smarty settings?

MikeyB

RobG

With the 5er, I was on 3... with the Haulmark yesterday, I was on 5.

Rob

rich

the early g56 is like having 4;10's

RobG

Yes it is, and I like it that way. It's perfectly suited to towing. I miss the 4.10's from my 2001.

But I keep it right around 1900 cruising and 2100 climbing and it works very well.

Rob

bkrukow

With my toyhauler I get at best 10. Usaly worse. With my small utility trailer with 3 atvs on it and one in the box all with huge square cargo boxes mounted on them I got around 11-12 at 70. I was a little ticked at that but there was a lot of wind drag and turbulence with that load. I wouldent be to upset with the numbers you posted. It would be nice if they where better like with the older trucks but oh well, its the price we pay for clean air I guess.

WestTN

Aerodynamics, not weight, is the primary factor when towing.

parklane

Last month I hauled my 10k 5er from Ontario to OK and back - a total of 2500 mi and got a rotten 9.6mpg. Was running 1700 -1900 rpm, that is 64 - 68mph. My trailer is 12' high, but is somewhat aero in front, so I was expecting 12 - 13 mpg. Very disappointing. I do all my own service, so everything was up to par.

4up

I've been trying to find the 'happy spot' towing my 12k 5er. On flat ground, I've averaged as much as 11.3 mpg at 62 - 63 mph. Problem is that I'm a little low in the RPM range and lug the engine on any type of hills. Engine seems to run happy towing my rig around 2000 - 2100 rpms, or about 70 mph, but my mileage drops one full mpg - around 10.3 - 10.5, and that's only feasible on interstate runs usually.

By the way, my truck is a bone stock 2006 QC 4x4, 3.73 gears and 48RE.

klx650a2

Yea aerodynamic drag can be huge. I have a TT that weights 6 k and towing it into a wind I can be down to 9.5 or 10. I have a dump trailer that loaded weighing 12 k, into the same wind I get 13-14.

rich

well you must not tow a lot cuz it may be great for mountain climbing all the time but i have had 1 truck with 4:10's and will never have another. the higher gears have always worked great but we have a higher speed limit then most states

nkennedy

I get around 11.x pulling a high profile 12K lb fifth @ 60-65 with RPMs around 1800. I wonder if a 4:10 rear end would give me better fuel milage at that speed.

rich

i have never gotten good mileage with 4;10's i got around 9 pulling 24k with 3;73's now with this g56 i get about 8 if i'm lucky pulling same weights

Grit Dog

It's one of the primary factors anyway. I've never towed heavy, but my truck which gets 18-19mpg empty at 80mph highway driving get's 13-14mpg towing my ski boat (4000#), same speed, 12-13mpg towing the new wakeboat(5000#), and 12-13mpg towing my 2 place aluminum enclosed sled trailer w/ 2 sleds (#2500 tops, but less aerodynamic).

Mike_Boutet

I'd start off by airing the tires up to at least 60psi from 44psi.